Q:my garden is a mess i mean theirs dried up leaves everywhere, it's not maintained, etc..etc.. the plants in their are dying, pretty much is a mess and i want to fix it up to plant my tomatoes in their.how do i go about doing this? of course i will need to clean up the dried up clippings which i will do tommorrow or at least try but how do i go about with the dirt? never planted in the ground before.i wont be planting in them soon but i want to start cleaning it up as this isn't my garden but my grandpa's and he really doesn't maintain it like i said it's pretty much a trash bin.

Pick okorder /

Q:In the Better Homes and Gardens magazine there was a recipe for butterscotch almond bars. It required a cake mix. i was wondering if we just add the cake mix, or follow the directions on the cake mix box as well.

I have not seen the Better Homes article, but from experience with recipes that use cake mix is that you just add the cake mix and disregard the box instructions. The reason some recipes will let you use cake mix is just because all the dry ingredients are already measured and mixed to save you time. Just add wet ingredients, pop in oven and voila! I believe this is true for your situation because your trying to make butterscotch almond bars, not cake with butterscotch and almond on it, so you don't need to follow any cake directions, you just need the goodies already mixed.

Q:I live in an urbanized area so I have a very limited space for backyard gardening. I want to have an access to vegetables that are safe and nutritious, meaning 100% free from chemicals. What can I do? What vegetables can I start growing? Useful links will be appreciated. Thanks! :)

Buy some plant food, ask the Nursery staff what to get. There are all different types. And ask how often you should be feeding and watering the plants. SO once you are all organised get home, plant and wait for everything to grow. It sounds like a lot, but I find it fun and relaxing and so rewarding! Make sure you keep an eye on your plants. Don't forget about them. If they start to not look like they are going that well (e.g. going a funny colour, getting spots, being eaten by something) try and research what is causing this problem on google or at your nursey and you will be about to find a solution. Herbs are a great way to start! Tomatoes and things like spring onions and silverbeet are easy to grow, give them a shot! Good luck :)

Q:I sent for your Better Home and Garden the first part of April and have sent my payment on April 20, 2007 and have not had the magazine come in the mail yet. Carol Wilcox Box 164 Paris Idaho 83261

You should go to the better homes and garden magazine site. This is a question and answer forum for us general people with nothing better to do. Just kidding. Get a hold of better homes and gardens magazine.

Q:My husband and I bought a desk from Walmart..the Better Homes and Gardens Computer Desk in Abbey Oak. The number on the box is BH084-101-76-19. It came with no freaking instruction manual and no one seems to be of any help! I was just wondering if anyone knew where I could possibly find these instructions before we load the heavy sucker up to return it. Thanks in advance for anyone able to help! :-D

I am not sure if it is for a desk made by Ameriwood, or if it is a Wal-Mart number. The rep said you can get the instructions by email if you call. If you go to the Wal-Mart site, they have a link for consumer questions and answers. Apparently it is not that uncommon for them to omit desk assembly instructions from the boxes. Additional Details: I'm sorry you had so many problems! I do like the Sauder products more, I think.

Q:Have a new house with many plantings front and back yard. Communication with previous owner has been difficult. I would love to find a volunteer who would walk through the garden areas with me to name and label the various species there. I want to weed, but love wildflowers and such, and don't want to take out something of interest. I know I can go to my local university with plant leaves for help with identification, but with so many, it would be a long and tedious process.By the way, my geographic location is northeastern Connecticut. thank you.

Here okorder /

Q:Yeah so basically in the question. I am stuck at home my brother is 15 and has 8 friends around camping in the garden but they are out at the moment. It is a rainy day and I am not sure what I can do with myself. Any suggestions?

you can read a book or invite some friends over or go to the library or watch tv or play a video game

Q:in your homegardenwhat is beautiful??

I'm very fortunate. I live at the edge of a small patch of forest in Washington state, in the northwestern portion of the U.S. In the summer, there are enormous numbers of blackberries on their vines. There are many wild plants and wild flowers; there is also a great deal of moss on the trees because it is VERY wet here most of the time. The trees include elms, birches, firs, and apple trees. There are many bird and animal species that live in the forested area, including coyotes, deer, foxes, squirrels, raccoons, skunks, and chipmunks; so far I have recorded twenty species of birds, including chickadees, woodpeckers and sapsuckers, towhees, juncos, several kinds of sparrows, warblers, Steller's Jays, hummingbirds, and even a Merlin! I consider myself very fortunate to be so close to such a lovely area, even though the forested area is relatively small.

Q:We are building a new home and are acting as our own contractors. We are having cabinets, granite, wood floors and tile brought in from other stores but need faucets, sinks, toilets ect.. Home Depot used to do a 10% discount card but neither them nor Lowes does this anymore. Anybody have any ideas as far as where to go to get alot of things where they might give a dicount? How is Home Deot and Lowes quality?

I would call a plumbing supplier. Tell them you want to buy all of your fixtures and ask if they will give you a discount on buying everything for your house from them. Also, quality of fixtures is not found in the store but in the brand. Koeler is your top of the line stuff, but it is expensive! Moen is standard for faucets and has a life time guarantee. Peerless is also a good name for faucets and American Standard is a good name for your ceramic fixtures.

Q:What are the main points i should remember when i design a home garden on my own?

to match light requirements with plant material. Oh and plant growth...plant perennials/ bushes and trees with space enough for 10 years growth. Filling in with annuals will help your garden have a fuller look til your perennials fill in.